Casper vs. Purple

We analyzed 12,609 customer reviews and comments from industry experts, to bring you this comprehensive side-by-side mattress comparison. So, which is better: Purple or Casper? See for yourself at a glance:

Key Comparisons

A closer look

For this comparison, we’re comparing the well-known Casper mattress to the newcomer Purple mattress. Although Casper is incredibly popular, and has been on the market for years, the Purple design offers a unique competitive advantage—a hybrid foam construction. To create this evaluation, and help you understand the differences between the two mattress designs, we looked through thousands of customer reviews, articles by industry experts, and unbiased data. Keep reading to discover what sleepers like you loved (and didn’t love) about the Casper and Purple foam mattresses.

What makes up each mattress?

As mentioned above, the unique construction of the Purple mattress makes this choice stand out from other foam mattresses online. First, two standard poly foam layers add support and comfort to the design. However, what makes the Purple special is the hyper-elastic polymer topper developed by the company’s engineer founders. The gel-like topper is fantastic for multiple reasons, offering sleepers pressure relief, comfortable bounce, and increased cooling capabilities for those who get hot during the night. Covering the Purple is an elegantly stitched blend of polyester/viscose/lycra fabric that allows for ventilation and works well with the polymer topper.

Figure 1: Diagram showing the foam and polymer layers of the Purple mattress.

Like traditional foam mattresses, the Casper is constructed completely of foam layers. Similar to the Purple, there are two poly foam layers that offer pressure relief and support. Unlike its competitor, the Casper’s second layer is a cushioning memory foam known for absorbing weight and offering maximum comfort. Finally, the bottom layer is a thick foam base meant to evenly distribute weight and create shape for the above layers. Wrapping these layers together is a two-tone cover, with a white 100% polyester fabric covering the top and bottom. The side panels stitch these pieces together with a slate gray fabric made of 51% polyester and 49% polypropylene.

How thick is each mattress?

Both the Purple and Casper mattresses are 9.5” inches thick, but the different layer construction makes the two feel surprisingly unique. The Purple’s hyper-elastic polymer topper offers more bounce and support, while the Casper is made to please a wide variety of sleeping positions and weights. Unless you have a specific thickness you need for your mattress, it’s best to consider sleeping position, price, and firmness before thickness—especially since the Casper and Purple have the same thickness.

Thickness (in.)

What is the weight of each mattress?

Due to the Purple’s thick gel-like topper, this mattress weighs more than the Casper design. Foam is one of the lightest materials used in mattress, but the hybrid nature of the Purple makes it significantly heavier than other mattresses on the market. If weight is an important purchase factor for you, see the comparisons below to learn the exact differences in size and weight.

Weight of queen (lb.)

Will the designs stand the test of time?

Before diving into which mattress will last the longest, we wanted to share that neither company has been around long enough to fully test the validity of their 10-year warranties. Casper was founded in 2014, while Purple has been around since 2016. While it’s difficult to properly give these mattresses a durability rating, the expert review website Sleep Like the Dead created estimations based off the materials used and the customer satisfaction reviews thus far. Based on this research, the Purple was given a rating of 6.5-7+ years, while the Casper was rated for 7+ years.

Durability (1-7)

What type of sleeping position is each mattress suitable for?

If you or your partner move and shift positions during the night, try to think whether you spend the most time on your stomach, back, or side for this next section. That being said, both the Purple and Casper mattresses are meant to give support and comfort to all sizes and sleeping positions. For the reviews below, we gathered data from customer reviews and the rating website Sleep Like the Dead. To make the comparisons easier, this site groups individuals into three weight categories: small (<130 lbs), average (130-230 lbs), and large (230+ lbs).

Looking first to side sleepers, the average-sized customer found the Casper and the Purple to be similar in “good” in comfort and overall satisfaction. Larger sleepers rated the Purple as “good to fair” and the Casper as “fair”. This difference is likely due to the deep compression support offered by Purple’s topper and base layer. Conversely, smaller people ranked Capser as “good to fair” but ranked Purple as “fair” for the same reason.

Moving onto sleepers who prefer to snooze on their back, all average-sized sleepers rated both the Casper and Purple as “good”. The difference between these two mattresses comes in small and large people—larger-sized and smaller-sized sleepers rated Casper as “good” while giving Purple a “good to fair” rating for both large and small individuals.

Last but not least are the stomach sleepers, and this is where the major differences in comfort and weight play in. Smaller stomach sleepers gave Casper a “good” rating and the Purple a “fair ranking (likely due to that supportive topper we’ve been mentioning). Average sleepers rated Purple as “good to fair” but boosted reviews for Casper with a “good” rating. Lastly, large stomach sleepers rated Purple as “good to fair” and lowered ratings for Casper with an overall “fair” rating.

Which mattress is firmest?

For both mattresses, we used the standard firmness rating scale from 1-10 in addition to reviewing stats from the unbiased comparison website Sleepopolis. Considering the average of both, the Purple is ranked as a 6-6.5 out of 10 on the firmness scale, while the Casper is ranked as a 6-7 out of 10.

Despite the similar firmness ratings, we found customer reviews to be the most informative for how comfortable each mattress truly is. Interestingly, the Purple was rated as more comfortable for larger sleepers, as smaller people said the gel topper made them feel like they were floating on the mattress rather than sinking into it. While the Purple topper provides pressure relief and support, the Casper was considerably more comfortable for smaller sleepers. As you factor in the firmness level, remember that your sleeping position is also important to think of when choosing between mattresses.

FIrmness (1-7)

How much does each mattress cost?

We all know price is a major factor to consider when purchasing a mattress. When it comes to online foam mattresses shopping, the Purple is almost always going to be one of the more expensive options. However, unlike other foam mattresses, the Casper and Purple prices are relatively similar across all sizes. For the specific costs and associated sizes, take a look at our chart below.

Price of Queen (USD)

Which has the highest customer ratings?

Luckily, both the Purple and Casper have a higher-than-average customer satisfaction rating, so you really can’t go wrong with either option. While there were different ratings depending on the website we pulled research from, some ranked the Casper higher while others believed the Purple was better. If customer ratings are part of your final purchase decision, look to trusted sites like Amazon, Sleep Like the Dead, and Sleepopolis for more specific details on highlights or pain points.

Customer Satisfaction (1-5)

So, which mattress is better overall?

And the winner is…! Honestly, when it comes to choosing between a Casper or Purple mattress, it’s probable you’ll find things you like and dislike about both. However, if you prefer a mattress with more bounce, deep support, a unique feel, and made for heavier sleepers, the Purple could be your best bet. On the other hand, the Casper is more versatile for all sizes and sleeping positions, and still has a high comfort level, lower price point, and all-around traditional foam mattress feel. Best of luck choosing—we hope our comparison helped and that you enjoy whichever mattress you wind up with.